Oak Ridge Y-12 National Security Complex

[Rennhack]

Don't forget to vote, keep your comments civil.

[Andy Owen]

Y-12 is a good place to retire from the road, Maggie and I now have 3 boys and have been here for 10 yrs.  HPs can contact Kelly Services at 865-481-4900 for a starter job which could turn into a long term "house job" with BWXT or SEC.  Rates are about $24-28/hr for Sr Techs with a L or Q clearance.  Area is real nice to raise a family.  DOE is downsizing K-25 and X-10 sites or presently known as ETTP and ORNL. 
Thanks
Andy Owen

[jculver1959]

I was wondering if anyone has taken the Y-12 site specific RCT exam. I was given a manual and told I had two weeks to study and then take exam. Is it simular to the core (multiple choice) or is it a different format? Is there anywhere where you can view sample questions ie: Nukeworkers core practice exam? If anyone can give me a heads up I would appreciate the knowledge.

                                                JC

[Rennhack]

I have never taken Y-12's PArt 2, but I have taken others.  It is also multiple guess format.  I do not know of any practice tests or question examples for part 2.  I'd suggest you focus on the objectives, but leave no stone unturned (i.e. all of the material in part 2 is testable.  My Part 2 asked my the density thickness of the wall of an RO-2, and what was the lowest MeV Beta that a 44-9 could detect.

[Rennhack]

Volfireman,

Great article.  PLEASE read this:
http://www.nukeworker.com/forum/index.php/topic,5385.0.html

[raymcginnis]

I have a question for anyone working at Y-12 or Oak Ridge in general.  Just outside the gates of the facility on the Y-12 side, there is a radiological lab that we like to use from time to time.  I just did a desktop audit of them yesterday.

I did an onsite audit of them right after 9/11 and the rumor was that the gates to Oak Ridge were going to be expanded so that they would require govenment clearance to get to their building.

Does anyone know if this actually happened?  It is not important that I know this.  Now we do desktop audits of all labs based on DOE audits.  I am just curious if this actually happened.  Names were left out to protect the innocent, LOL.  I just wanted to know, if I ever wanted to visit the lab again, do I need Oak Ridge clearance to do it?  An innocent question from curiosity.

[volfireman07]

Y-12 has not moved their access control points, but that does not mean the building you are referring to is still accessible.  They may have installed badge scanners on the doors or some other measure.  Without knowing which building you are talking about it is hard to give you a good answer. 

Access to the Y-12 site has changed.  You have to bring in your birth certificate or passport to prove US citizenship.  They put a little sticker on your badge to show you meet the access requirements.

[Andy Owen]

I just wanted to update the Y-12 contact subcontractor list.  Kelly lost their contract and it has now been given to DeNuke, they are at 704 Illinois Ave in Oak Ridge.  Contact number is 865-220-0046.

Maggie and I are still here and are doing fine.

As for the access into the Bioassay Lab, you can enter the west lobby but you must have a contact person and reason to enter the building.  Your best bet is to go the visitors center and get a visitors badge.     

[Dave Warren]

Andy,
        Haven't heard from you in awhile. Hope all is going well over there at the "Y". Are they looking for more technicians or just rolling the old techs over to DeNuke. Or should I consult Johnna on that question?
          Big Daddy

[Shonkatoys]

I heard they are rolling Kelly Techs. I think getting DeNuke in is a good deal.  Getting a new company in the area with good people. 

[Dave Warren]

It is a newer company and that is a good thing. The nice thing about them is that most of them have been down here for a few years, and are familiar with the way the things are operated here locally. Most, if not all, were working at BNFL (K Buildings) at one time or another. I believe that is accurate, but can't confirm it.

Anyway, it never hurts to have a fresh face and try on a different color hard hat.....

[johngault]

      beware the redhead in safety.  it bites

[DecommMan]

Any decommissioning work there?

[MrHazmat]

OOPS 

OAK RIDGE — Nuclear operations were temporarily halted Wednesday at a Tennessee complex that stores and processes uranium after three protesters, including a nun, were able to intrude into a high-security area over the weekend.
The Y-12 National Security Complex said all nuclear material is safe.
The temporary stand-down was expected to end by next week. Special nuclear material will be moved to vaults on site, and contractor security personnel will undergo training and refresher instruction. The protesters were found hanging banners in the dark and singing on Saturday and offering to break bread with the security guards, officials said. They were arrested.
The nuclear complex regularly gets protesters and activists to the site around the August anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.
The National Nuclear Security Administration’s Production Office is responsible for oversight of both B&W and WSI Oak Ridge, which provides the personnel that makes up the Y-12 Protective Force. WSI-Oak Ridge said last month it planned to cut as many as 51 jobs, including about 34 security police officer positions at Y-12.
According to its website, Y-12 maintains the safety, security and effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile. It also provides nuclear fuel for the Navy and for research reactors worldwide.
Those arrested on federal trespassing charges were Megean Rice, 82, a Roman Catholic nun; Greg Boertje-Obed, 57; and Michael Walli, 63.
The protesters called themselves “Transform Now Plowshares,” but there is no known Plowshares national protest group.
The nuclear safety administration said in a statement that the changes were aimed at addressing deficiencies identified after what happened Saturday.
Steven Wyatt, a spokesman for the NNSA at Oak Ridge, declined to be more specific on those deficiencies.
“However, all nuclear materials at Y-12 are in safe, secure storage and we remain entirely confident in the security of Y-12’s facilities,” the agency said in a statement.
Wyatt said he was not aware if more protesters were coming this weekend, but they would be able to respond to any protests.

[Marlin]

OOPS 

OAK RIDGE — Nuclear operations were temporarily halted Wednesday at a Tennessee complex that stores and processes uranium after three protesters, including a nun, were able to intrude into a high-security area over the weekend.
The Y-12 National Security Complex said all nuclear material is safe.
The temporary stand-down was expected to end by next week. Special nuclear material will be moved to vaults on site, and contractor security personnel will undergo training and refresher instruction. The protesters were found hanging banners in the dark and singing on Saturday and offering to break bread with the security guards, officials said. They were arrested.
The nuclear complex regularly gets protesters and activists to the site around the August anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.
The National Nuclear Security Administration’s Production Office is responsible for oversight of both B&W and WSI Oak Ridge, which provides the personnel that makes up the Y-12 Protective Force. WSI-Oak Ridge said last month it planned to cut as many as 51 jobs, including about 34 security police officer positions at Y-12.
According to its website, Y-12 maintains the safety, security and effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile. It also provides nuclear fuel for the Navy and for research reactors worldwide.
Those arrested on federal trespassing charges were Megean Rice, 82, a Roman Catholic nun; Greg Boertje-Obed, 57; and Michael Walli, 63.
The protesters called themselves “Transform Now Plowshares,” but there is no known Plowshares national protest group.
The nuclear safety administration said in a statement that the changes were aimed at addressing deficiencies identified after what happened Saturday.
Steven Wyatt, a spokesman for the NNSA at Oak Ridge, declined to be more specific on those deficiencies.
“However, all nuclear materials at Y-12 are in safe, secure storage and we remain entirely confident in the security of Y-12’s facilities,” the agency said in a statement.
Wyatt said he was not aware if more protesters were coming this weekend, but they would be able to respond to any protests.

   Over the last seven years I have worked for several companies on many demolition and remediation projects at Y-12. I found the security force to be very professional. I suspect that this may prove to be a "Perfect Storm" in this breach. I was shocked and thought that the news reports were distorted as frequently happens, but that does not seem to be the case. This will be painful for the site in general.
   August sixth the anniversary or the Hiroshima bombing has traditionally been a day of protest by Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance but they have always been peaceful. The most recent breach was by Transform Now Plowshares but I suspect there will be many more cameras on them than normal because of the incident.

[mkbear]

My wife and I are considering work at UPF. Can anyone advise on the living (housing, crime, etc.) conditions in the area? Thank you.

[Marlin]

Crime rate is low, schools are good, price of housing depends on location the closer to Knoxville the higher the cost. Knoxville is spreading West. Pigeon Forge, Dollywood, and Gatlinburg are about an hour away. East Tennessee is hilly with ridges. Great Smoky Mountain National Park is also about an hour away. PHDs and rednecks. University of Tennessee Knoxville is here (fanatic supporters orange everywhere). If you are a biker "The Dragon" is near by. Tennessee does have a bit of a drug problem but I don't see it in the Oak Ridge area that much.

Hope that helps I have lived here for the last fourteen years.

[mkbear]

Marlin,

Thanks for your response to my question about the area. I have decided to take a job with Bechtel working at the UPF and will start in January. I wish to rent an apartment initially for around 6 months. Can you advise on suitable apartment complex for my wife and I.

Thank you.

[Marlin]

Marlin,

Thanks for your response to my question about the area. I have decided to take a job with Bechtel working at the UPF and will start in January. I wish to rent an apartment initially for around 6 months. Can you advise on suitable apartment complex for my wife and I.

Thank you.

I am not familiar enough with that market to recommend any but there are a lot around in Oak Ridge and surrounding towns. We stayed in the Rolling Hills apartments while we looked around but that was in 2004.

https://www.apartments.com/rolling-hills-oak-ridge-tn/5nxsrvp/